Understanding your bill
Why the monthly total is made of several lines, and why a month can differ.
Your monthly total is not one number. It is rent plus whatever else your contract includes — typically a utility fee and a building maintenance fee, sometimes a guest surcharge — and any discount is shown as its own line.
Rent never silently includes utilities. They are separate lines because they are separate agreements, and seeing them separately is how you can check them.
Two months in a tenancy usually look different from the rest: the first and the last. Both are normally charged for the days you actually occupy the room rather than the whole month — see proration. Your first month may also be folded into the move-in invoice instead of appearing as rent.
Amounts and which fees apply are set by your workspace, so another resident's bill is not a guide to yours.
What a normal month looks like
| Line | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rent | The base amount for the room. |
| Utility fee | Where your contract includes one. A fixed monthly fee, not metered usage, unless you were told otherwise. |
| Building maintenance | Upkeep of shared parts of the building. |
| Guest surcharge | Only where more than one person occupies the room. |
| Discount | Shown as its own line, reducing the total. |
Why your first and last months differ
- A part month is billed by day, at both ends of the tenancy. February and a 31-day month give different daily rates for the same rent, which is correct.
- Your first month may not appear as rent at all. It is often collected on the move-in invoice, together with the deposit and one-off fees. If you move in after the middle of the month, that invoice can cover the following whole month too — so your first ordinary rent charge may be later than you expect.
See Proration and Contract dates.
Rounding
Each line is rounded to the yen on its own, and the total is their sum. On a part month that can differ by a yen from multiplying the monthly total by a fraction yourself. The itemised figure is the one you are charged.
If something looks wrong
Compare against your contract first — it states the fees that apply to you. Amounts and which fees apply are set by your workspace, so another resident's bill is not a guide to yours.
Then ask, quoting the month and the line. A specific question gets a specific answer; "my rent seems high" cannot be checked.